Incandescent-lamp socket



(No Model.)

. H. 0.. WIRT; INGANDESOENTLAMP SOCKET. No. 560,667. Patented May 26,1896.

I I I r l STATES HERBERT O. WVIRT, OF SOI-IENEOTADY, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNORTO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK.

lNCANDESCENT-LAMP SOGKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,667, dated May 26,1896.

Application filed February 17,1896. Serial No. 579,520. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT O. WIRT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIncandescent-Lamp Sockets, (Case No. 356,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to incandescent-lamp sockets, and has specialreference to the base thereof formed of molded insulating material.

The object of the invention is to provide a molded base of insulatingmaterial for incandescent lamps, said base being so constructed as toinsure the proper operation of the contact-piece of the key, and tolocate it at such a distance from the contact on the lamp that theelectrical connection will be properly made and broken. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of amolded base for an incandescent-lamp socket, a portion of the shell andthe incandescent lamp in section, and other parts of the socket. Fig. 2is a view in elevation of the base and key and a portion of theincandescent lamp. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base and key. Fig. 4 isa vertical section of the base, key, and a por tion of the incandescentlamp on the line as 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of anincandescent-lamp base constructed according to this invention.

1 indicates a molded base for incandescentlamp sockets, formed ofporcelain or other insulating material in accordance with thisinvention. The base 1 is formed with suitable recesses and shoulderportions 2 3 4 5, &c., in which are located the key-frame 6, key 7, andits spring 8, and embodying the projections or pillars 9, which are anessential feature of this invention, as hereinafter explained. The base1 and its key are shown as inclosed in a suitable shell 10, and inconjunction therewith, the end 11 of an incandescent lamp, having thecontact-ring 12 abutting against the ends of the projections or pillars9. The end 11 of the incandescent lamp is shown as connected to the base1 by being screwed to a screw-threaded projection 13 on the key-frame 6.

Now the object of this invention has reference to this fact that it isessential that the contact of the key should be located at such adistance from the contacting part of the lamp as to permit thecontact-piece of the key to properly operate and form a properelectrical connection, and this is effected by having the contact-block14 at a proper distance from the contact portion of the lamp;

,piece of the key at the proper distance from the contact of anincandescent lamp, so as to insure its proper operation and the properdistance between it and the contact of the lamp. In other words, theconnection between the lamp and the base may not always be such as tobring the contact portion of the lamp at the right distance from thecontact .14 of the key, and to compensate for this some means must beprovided so as always to bring the contact-block 14 at the properdistance from the contact portion of the lamp. This is accomplished inthis invention by providing the base 1 with projections or pillars.These pillars 9 are of a similar and standard length-that is, of such alength relatively to the contact-block 14 in its open position, as shownin Fig. 1, and the distance of the block 14 in this position from aplane extending along the outer end of the projections 9 as to avoid theholding of an arc when the current is turned off between the block 14and the contact-ring 12. In other words, the projections 9 will be ofsuch a length relatively to the distance of the contact-block 14 in itsopen position from the contact-ring 1:2 that the projections 9 abuttingagainst the contact-ring 12 will provide sufficient space be tween thering 12 and block 14 to admit of the proper operation of the latter,insuring the electrical connection.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is 1. A molded base for incandescent-lamp sockets, formedwith a central transverse reeess or open portion, extending from top tobottom and clear across the base, to receive the key-frame, its shaft,key and spring, and projections adapted to abut against the contactportion of an incandescent lamp and having their ends lying in the sameplane at such a distance from the key when the latter is in place in thebase as to insure electrical connection; in combination with akey-frame, its shaft, spring and key, the several parts thereof beinglocated below the ends of said projections, and the key being locatedWithin one end of said transverse opening, as herein set forth.

2. A molded base for incandescent-lamp sockets, formed with pillars of asimilar or standard length, and with a central transverse recess or openportion, extending from top to bottom and clear across the base, andshouldered portions to receive the key-frame, key and its spring, and ofsuch depth with reference to the pillars as to insure the electricalconnection of the key with the contact of an incandescent lamp; incombination with said key-frame, key and spring, and a centralelectrical connection for securing the base to the lamp, mounted in saidbase below the ends of said pillars and projecting beyond the latter, asherein set forth.

3. A molded base for incandescent-lamp sockets formed with pillars ofequal and standard length and with a central transverse recess andshouldered portions to receive the key-frame, key and its spring,saidkey-frame, key and its spring located in said base in such a positionrelative to the length of the pillars as to insure the operation of thekey and electrical connection of the contacts, and a central screwmounted in said base and adapted to secure said base to the incandescentlamp; in combination with an incandescent lamp having a centralscrew-threaded socket for engagement with said screw, and a contact-ringagainst which the ends of the pillars abut, as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day ofFebruary, 1896.

HERBERT C. WIRT. Vitnesses:

B. B. HULL, GENEVIEVE HAYNES.

